WHEATON, Ill. — A gun that fired some of the last shots of the Civil War will be on display Sept. 29 at the DuPage County Fairgrounds during the Chicago Show (formerly known as the National Civil War-Military and CADA show. The 1861 Confederate bronze rifled gun, Serial #1 made by Skates & Co. of Mobile, Ala., was captured at Fort Blakeley in Alabama on April 9, 1865. Original projectiles from the battlefield confirm its location and use. Owner Ken Knoll has researched and gathered the history of the gun, as well as the maker Skates & Co. and will be displaying his collection at the show. The Battle of Blakeley is considered the final major battle of the Civil War, with surrender just hours after Grant had defeated Lee at Appomattox on the morning of April 9, 1865. Mobile, Ala., was the last major Confederate port to be captured by Union forces, on April 12, 1865. Collectors from across the United States, Europe and even Japan attend this semi-annual event to buy, sell and trade cherished vintage military item. The show offers a wide selection of vintage and collector guns, swords, Bowie knives, Revolutionary War artifacts, historical autograph and paintings, rare books, military medals, old bottles, tintypes, Civil war-era jewelry and much, more. Associations will be represented such as, Bowie Knife Collectors Association, Salt Creek Civil War Round Tale, Garibaldi Guard, PH Sherman Camp 2, Camp Douglas, Illinois Rifle Association, Pine Valley Club, Submarine Veterans Memorial, Antique Bottle Collector Association and the NRA-ISRA. The Battlefield Balladeers will perform songs and music from the Civil War. For more information visit www.chicagocivilwarshow.com or call (715) 526-9769. |